Gas cigarette lighter

ABSTRACT

In this novel gas cigarette-lighter arrangement comprising an external case having any desired, refined or luxury appearance, to be kept permanently, and an inner, unitary structure of the so-called &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;los&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; type, i.e. adapted to be thrown away and replaced by a new one when the gas initially introduced into the reservoir thereof is exhausted, said inner structure comprises as conventional a head and a reservoir with the mechanism usually associated therewith, such as the pressure reducing device, the valve and the flint and wheel system, and is characterized by a cover pivotally mounted to said head and so arranged that its opening movement causes a forked lever to lift the valve stem and burner member by engaging from underneath the projection usually formed on said member.

Oct. 3, 1972 United States Patent Genoud PrimaryExaminerEdward G. FavorsAttorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen m u A r a Rn. S m Lo mm m JG: If. m n Aw Gi mm [57] ABSTRACT In this novel gas cigarette-lighterarrangement comprising an external case having any desired, refined orluxury appearance, to be kept permanently, and an inner, unitarystructure of the so-called-los type, i.e. adapted to be thrown away andreplaced by a new one when the gas initially introduced into thereservoir thereof is exhausted, said inner structure comprises as a t aD v. H r o i h m n m o 9 n 5 3 FQZC ,89F... X-QD- wnM n. 0-] W .mL mw EA1]] 2 0 223 .l[[

M 16 1970 F conventional a head and a reservoir with the mechanismusually associated therewith, such as the pressure reducing device, thevalve and the flint and [52] US. wheel system and is characterized by acover pivotany [51] Illt. mounted to Said head and so arranged a its p g[58] Field of Search...............431/ 131, 254, 130, 255 movementcauses a forked level. to lift the valve stem and burner member byengaging from underneath the projection usually formed on said member.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS V 2Claims, 3 Drawing Figures3,484,825 Hocq ....43l/l3l X 3,186,193 Projahn .................431/l3lX PATENTEDnms m2 I" 1 A I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to gas cigarette-lighters and has specific reference to lightersof this type comprising a permanent case-forming portion and a lostcomposite portion, the latter being adapted to be replaced completely byanother, new one when the gas contained in the reservoir is exhausted.

Cigarette-lighters are known wherein the reservoir is built-in andadapted to be recharged when exhausted or empty; furthermore, inlighters of this type the pyrophoric flint and the spark wheel must bereplaced periodically as they wear out.

Other gas cigarette-lighters are known wherein the reservoir isdetachable and adapted when empty to be replaced with a new gas-filledone incorporating the pressure-reducing device and the valve. Therefore,with these lighters the flint and spark wheel must also be replacedperiodically when worn.

Other gas cigarette-lighters of the lost type are known which are simplythrown away completely when the gas initially introduced into thereservoir is exhausted, the useful life of the flint and wheel beingcalculated to last only as long as the gas content of the reservoir.These so-called lost lighters are nevertheless objectionable, in spiteof their practical characteristics, in that they lack personality andcannot, for obvious reasons, have a luxurious or relatively luxuriousexternal dressing; on the other hand, their body requires a good finishsince it is externally apparent.

Finally, other known gas cigarette-lighters are based on a differentconception permitting of obtaining an article of normal externalappearance, having any desired getup, more or less luxurious dressingand/or finish, and wherein the complete internal mechanism, includingthe reservoir, the pressure reducing device, the valve, the flint andthe spark wheel, constitute a unitary structure constructed like a lostlighter is adapted to be replaced completely when the gas chargeinitially introduced into the reservoir is exhausted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION shovel" movement; thus, this lever iscaused to engage from beneath the projection usually carried by orformed on the valve stem so as to open the valve member in combinationwith a head to which said cover is pivotally mounted and through whichextends the mechanism associated with the reservoir.

A clearer understanding of this invention will be had from the followingdescription given by way of example with reference tothe accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS F IG. 1 is a general view of the gascigarette-lighter of this invention as seen in vertical section takenalong the line 1-1 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational and sectional view taken along the line 2-2of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 3 is a plan view from above with a fragmentary section taken alongthe line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The gas cigarette-lighteraccording to this invention comprises a head '1 having pivotally mountedthereto a cover 2 and to which a body or case 3 is adapted to be fittedfrom beneath. v

A unitary structure constituting by itself a so-called lost lighter andcomprising in the conventional manner a reservoir 4 preferably ofinjection-moulded plastic material is adapted to fit in the case 3,under the head 1. The reservoir 4 comprises:

a well 5 projecting into the inner space of the reservoir and having abottom bore from which emerge a wick 6 this well is adapted to receivethe valve body 7 and the valve member 8 of which the upper endcomprising a flange 9 constitutes the burner;

a blind recess 10 formed in a tubular element depending within thereservoir and enclosing the flint l1 urged by a spring 12 side wings 13are also provided for constituting the bearings of a pivot pin 14 of aflint wheel rotatably rigid with driving or thumb wheels 15,

and a bottom plate 16.

The head 1 has secured thereto at 17 one end of a blade spring 18 formedwith an aperture registering with the head of the valve burner, thisspring surrounding an anchor pin 19 also acting as the hinge pin of themovable cover 2.

Moreover, also mounted on this pin 19 is an arm 20 moving bodily withthe cover 2 and pivotally connected to one end of a connecting link 21having its other end pivotally connected in turn to a lever 22fulcrummed at 23 to the head 1; the forked end 24 of this lever 22 isadapted, as a consequence of the shovel like movement imparted theretoby the elements 20, 21 during the opening movement of said cover 1, toengage the projection or flange 9 of valve member 8 from beneath to asto lift this member.

A pair of blade springs 25, 26 are provided for resiliently holding thehead 3 within the case 3. Spring 25 is secured permanently to theunderface of head 1 and spring 26 is so hooked to this head 1 that itcan tilt and thus release the claws 27 formed on this spring fromrecesses 28 formed in the registering portion of reservoir 4.

It will be seen that when the cover is closed the above-described lostassembly can be introduced freely into the head 1, or be removedtherefrom, due to the lower and retracted position of the forked lever22- 24.

The above-described lost assembly is completed by an adjustment wheel 29adapted to be rotated from the exterior after partially extracting thecase 3 from the head 1. However, if desired, this adjustment wheel 29may also be actuated directly from the exterior by slightly increasingits diameter and forming a cor responding notch in the upper portion ofthe case.

Although a specific form of embodiment of this invention has beendescribed and illustrated herein by way of example, it will readilyoccur to those conversant with the art that various modifications andvariations may be brought thereto without departing from the basicprinciples of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

l. A gas cigarette-lighter comprising a lighter head portion; a lightercover; arm and linkage means pivotally mounting said cover to said headportion for opening and closing movement thereof; lever means pivotallymounted on said head and operatively engaged with said arm and linkagemeans said lever means having at least one forked end; a gas reservoirfastened to said head portion; valve and pressurereducing mechanismassociated with said reservoir extending through said head portion, saidvalve mechanism comprising a tubular valve member including aburner-forming head end having a projection formed thereon, said arm andlinkage means, upon opening of said cover, imparting lateral andconcurrent arcuate shovel-like movement to said lever means whereby theforked end engages said projection on the burner-forming head so as toopen said valve member.

2. A gas cigarette-lighter as claimed in claim 1, comprising a caseforming an external body for said lighter, said reservoir and said valveand pressure-reducing mechanism constituting a unitary assemblydetachably insertable into said case.

i l t i

1. A gas cigarette-lighter comprising a lighter head portion; a lightercover; arm and linkage means pivotally mounting said cover to said headportion for opening and closing movement thereof; lever means pivotallymounted on said head and operatively engaged with said arm and linkagemeanS said lever means having at least one forked end; a gas reservoirfastened to said head portion; valve and pressure-reducing mechanismassociated with said reservoir extending through said head portion, saidvalve mechanism comprising a tubular valve member including aburner-forming head end having a projection formed thereon, said arm andlinkage means, upon opening of said cover, imparting lateral andconcurrent arcuate shovel-like movement to said lever means whereby theforked end engages said projection on the burner-forming head so as toopen said valve member.
 2. A gas cigarette-lighter as claimed in claim1, comprising a case forming an external body for said lighter, saidreservoir and said valve and pressure-reducing mechanism constituting aunitary assembly detachably insertable into said case.